PNG travellers and New Zealand
Papua New Guinea and New Zealand are Pacific neighbours with long-standing links through education, development work, church networks, sport and trade. Travellers from PNG go to New Zealand for many reasons, and others pass through Auckland on the way to Pacific islands such as Samoa, Tonga or the Cook Islands, or further afield.
For immigration purposes, Papua New Guinea is a transit visa-waiver country. If you only need to change planes at Auckland International Airport, you don't need a transit visa, but you must hold an approved NZeTA, the New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority. This has applied to transit passengers since 1 October 2019. If you want to leave the airport and spend time in New Zealand, you need a visa.
Transit or visit?
Use this quick check to see which document fits your plans.
A transit NZeTA is enough if…
- You connect at Auckland only
- You leave within 24 hours
- You stay in the transit area
- Your next flight goes to another country
You need a visa if…
- You are visiting family or attending an event
- You are on a business or government trip in New Zealand
- You are studying, including on a scholarship
- You are playing sport, working or doing seasonal work
A visitor visa, student visa or work visa is a separate application made to the New Zealand immigration authorities. It needs more supporting evidence and more time than an NZeTA, so apply well before your travel date. Once you hold a valid New Zealand visa, you don't need an NZeTA as well.
Transiting Auckland step by step
Before you fly
Get your NZeTA approved, and make sure you have any visa you need for your final destination and for other transit points on the way.
At check-in
Your airline checks your passport, NZeTA and onward ticket. Without an approved NZeTA you will not be allowed to board.
Landing in Auckland
Follow the signs for international transfers. Do not go through passport control or collect your bags unless your airline has told you that you must, in which case you need a visa.
Your onward flight
Pass through transit security and board your flight to the third country within 24 hours of landing.
Tip: book your whole journey on one ticket where you can, so your luggage is checked through to your final destination. Separate tickets can mean collecting bags in Auckland, which isn't possible on a transit NZeTA.
Our transit NZeTA guide has more detail on the Auckland transit area. If your route fits these steps, you can apply for your PNG transit NZeTA online in about 10 minutes.
Common routes from Port Moresby
There are no direct flights from Papua New Guinea to New Zealand. Most journeys from Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby connect through Australia, usually Brisbane or Sydney, or through Nadi in Fiji. Some travellers route via Asian hubs such as Manila or Singapore.
If your journey connects in Australia, remember that Australia has its own transit and visa rules. A New Zealand NZeTA does not cover an Australian stopover. Check with your airline or travel agent before you book.
New Zealand is 2 hours ahead of Port Moresby, or 3 hours ahead during New Zealand daylight saving (roughly late September to early April).
Arriving by cruise ship
Cruise passengers follow different rules. If you arrive in New Zealand on a cruise ship, you can apply for an NZeTA as a visitor, even with a PNG passport. That NZeTA lets you go ashore at New Zealand ports during your cruise.
This only applies to arrival by sea. If you fly into New Zealand to board a ship, you need a visitor visa for that flight. Read the cruise ship NZeTA guide for details.
Applying and processing
The online NZeTA application takes about 10 minutes. You'll need your PNG passport, a photo of your face, an email address and a payment card. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport, including all given names.
| Processing option | Decision within | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 48–72 hours | Trips planned in advance |
| Emergency | 24–48 hours | Flights in the next few days |
| Rush | 12–24 hours | Urgent travel |
Transit passengers don't pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). Prices for each option are on the NZeTA fees page. Each traveller, including children, needs their own NZeTA, and you can add up to 10 people to one application. A new passport means a new NZeTA.
Apply for a transit NZeTA from Papua New Guinea
Already applied? Check your application status
PNG traveller FAQs
Only if they arrive on a cruise ship. If you fly in, a Papua New Guinea passport allows you to use an NZeTA for transit at Auckland only. To visit, you need a visitor visa.
No. Attending a conference means entering New Zealand, so you need a visitor visa. The transit NZeTA only covers connections inside Auckland Airport.
No. Students need a student visa for their programme. Once you hold a valid New Zealand visa, you do not also need an NZeTA.
Yes, if your connection is under 24 hours, you stay in the transit area and you meet the entry rules of your destination. Apply for your transit NZeTA before you fly.
No. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy is not charged to transit passengers.
Allow at least 72 hours before your first flight. If you are already close to departure, choose the Emergency or Rush processing option.